College Football Insider: Can 'Kirk 3.0' and Iowa run the table?

Kirk Ferentz knew the Iowa Hawkeyes needed change. His 16th season as head coach had ended in a swirl of humiliation.

Iowa was 7-2 last November before getting pounded 51-14 by the Gophers. Then came a two-point loss to Wisconsin, and a 17-point blown lead against Nebraska, followed with a 45-28 pounding by Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Last winter Ferentz and his staff studied everything. They changed quarterbacks, from Jake Rudock to C.J. Beathard, which prompted Rudock to transfer to Michigan. The Hawkeyes moved their practices to mornings, instead of afternoons. During a game week, they take Thursdays off now, instead of Mondays.

Ferentz has changed some in-game strategies, too, becoming less conservative. He's going for it more on fourth down, taking more chances on the final drive before halftime, etc.

With road wins over then-ranked Wisconsin and Northwestern, Iowa has opened a commanding 3-0 lead in the Big Ten West. The Hawkeyes' final five opponents — Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska — are a combined 2-12 in the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes, 7-0 overall, hadn't been ranked since 2010, but now they are No. 12, with a legitimate chance to stay undefeated, at least until a potential Big Ten title game matchup with Ohio State or Michigan State.

Pundits are calling this "Kirk 3.0," referencing Iowa's third renaissance during Ferentz's tenure. After twice winning a share of the Big Ten title under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes dipped to 6-6 in 2007 before going 20-6 over the next two years. And after going 4-8 in 2012, Iowa bounced back to 8-5 the next season.

Some observers believe one of Ferentz's assistants in particular has had a big influence. It's Brian Ferentz, the coach's son and offensive line coach, who was a starting center and guard on the 2004 and 2005 Hawkeyes' teams.

The younger Ferentz began his coaching career as an assistant for the New England Patriots before joining his father's staff in 2013.

"He's been very opinionated for quite some time," Kirk Ferentz said. "When he worked for New England, he wasn't hesitant to call in those complaints. It was like a talk show you didn't want to be on. That hasn't changed at all."

Brian Ferentz's offensive line has shown resilience. Last year's Outland Trophy winner, Brandon Scherff, and Andrew Donnal both headed to the NFL. Their two replacements at offensive tackle both got hurt. But the newcomers the Hawkeyes are plugging in might be even better.

The Hawkeyes lost their best player, defensive end Drew Ott, to a season-ending knee injury. Beathard has been playing through groin and hip injuries, and top receiver Tevaun Smith missed two games before returning last week.

Instead of discussing injuries, Ferentz would rather talk about the $55 million football complex Iowa opened last fall, and the way it's helped energize the program. Or the way his coaching staff has gelled since making Phil Parker defensive coordinator (in 2012) and Greg Davis offensive coordinator (in 2013).

"We went through a real regeneration of our program," Ferentz said. "Everybody made a contribution. Any adjustments we may have made, we've done as a staff."

• Wisconsin lost 10-6 to Iowa but probably wins that game if Joel Stave doesn't slip and fumble at the Hawkeyes 1-yard line. The Badgers need to win out and hope Iowa stumbles twice down the stretch. Wisconsin running back Corey Clement is close to returning from sports hernia surgery. The junior said he'll decide whether to play at Illinois on Saturday based on how he feels that morning.

• A medical redshirt was a possibility for Clement, whose only appearance came in the season opener against Alabama. Even if Clement plays beneath his peak for the rest of this season, he can launch his NFL career with a strong senior campaign next year. Also notable: Antonio Williams, a four-star running back from North Carolina, recently flipped his commitment from Wisconsin to Ohio State.

• The SiriusXM College Sports channel features Rick Neuheisel and Brady Hoke as analysts. Neuheisel is solid, but it has to be uncomfortable for UCLA, when he's critiquing coach Jim Mora, especially since Neuheisel's son, Jerry, is the Bruins' backup quarterback. Hoke said he disagreed with Jim Harbaugh's decision to punt at the end of the Michigan State game. As one Michigan fan noted, Hoke's teams probably would have trailed by 28 points by then.

2. Michigan State (7-0, 3-0): Mark Dantonio's wise moves vs. Michigan: trusting Connor Cook, rushing 11 on that punt.

3. Iowa (7-0, 3-0): After bye week, Hawkeyes play Maryland and go to Indiana before the Gophers visit Nov. 14.

4. Michigan (5-2, 2-1): Jabrill Peppers vs. Michigan State: Two tackles as DB, two receptions as WR, 129 return yards.

5. Wisconsin (5-2, 2-1): Badgers have nation's third-best scoring defense (10.9) behind Michigan and Duke (tied at 9.3).

6. Northwestern (5-2, 1-2): Since 27-0 win over Minnesota, Wildcats have been outscored 78-10 by Michigan and Iowa.

8. Nebraska (3-4, 1-2): Tommy Armstrong's 261-yard, three-TD, zero-INT outing vs. the Gophers was impressive.

9. Penn State (5-2, 2-1): Freshman RB Saquon Barkley returned from ankle injury to rush for 194 yards at Ohio State.

10. Gophers (4-3, 1-2): Pass rush needs work. Minnesota ranks second-to-last in Big Ten with 1.4 sacks per game.

11. Rutgers (3-3, 1-2): Scarlet Knights had played respectable defense before winning 55-52 shootout over Indiana.

12. Indiana (4-3, 0-3): Hoosiers didn't even play respectable defense against Southern Illinois. Bowl hopes fading.

14. Maryland (2-4, 0-2): First game under interim coach Mike Locksley comes Saturday vs. Penn State in Baltimore.